EP0701235B1 - Nutzung von magnetischen Warensicherungsetiketten - Google Patents

Nutzung von magnetischen Warensicherungsetiketten Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0701235B1
EP0701235B1 EP95117726A EP95117726A EP0701235B1 EP 0701235 B1 EP0701235 B1 EP 0701235B1 EP 95117726 A EP95117726 A EP 95117726A EP 95117726 A EP95117726 A EP 95117726A EP 0701235 B1 EP0701235 B1 EP 0701235B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sensor element
layer
magnetic
target
interrogation
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP95117726A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0701235A3 (de
EP0701235A2 (de
Inventor
Peter Yongxin Zhou
Kyung-Ho Shin
Thomas P. Solaski
Jeffrey Teague
Michael N. Cooper
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Sensormatic Electronics Corp
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Sensormatic Electronics Corp
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Publication of EP0701235A3 publication Critical patent/EP0701235A3/de
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2405—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used
    • G08B13/2408—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used using ferromagnetic tags
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2405—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used
    • G08B13/2408—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used using ferromagnetic tags
    • G08B13/2411—Tag deactivation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2428—Tag details
    • G08B13/2437—Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2428—Tag details
    • G08B13/2437—Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
    • G08B13/244—Tag manufacturing, e.g. continuous manufacturing processes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2428—Tag details
    • G08B13/2437—Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
    • G08B13/2442—Tag materials and material properties thereof, e.g. magnetic material details
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2465—Aspects related to the EAS system, e.g. system components other than tags
    • G08B13/2468—Antenna in system and the related signal processing
    • G08B13/2471—Antenna signal processing by receiver or emitter
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2465—Aspects related to the EAS system, e.g. system components other than tags
    • G08B13/2468—Antenna in system and the related signal processing
    • G08B13/2474—Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2465—Aspects related to the EAS system, e.g. system components other than tags
    • G08B13/2488—Timing issues, e.g. synchronising measures to avoid signal collision, with multiple emitters or a single emitter and receiver
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F1/00—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties
    • H01F1/01—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials
    • H01F1/03—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity
    • H01F1/12—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity of soft-magnetic materials
    • H01F1/14—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity of soft-magnetic materials metals or alloys
    • H01F1/147—Alloys characterised by their composition
    • H01F1/153—Amorphous metallic alloys, e.g. glassy metals
    • H01F1/15316—Amorphous metallic alloys, e.g. glassy metals based on Co
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F1/00—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties
    • H01F1/01—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials
    • H01F1/03—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity
    • H01F1/12—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity of soft-magnetic materials
    • H01F1/14—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity of soft-magnetic materials metals or alloys
    • H01F1/147—Alloys characterised by their composition
    • H01F1/153—Amorphous metallic alloys, e.g. glassy metals
    • H01F1/15341—Preparation processes therefor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F1/00—Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties
    • H01F1/0009—Antiferromagnetic materials, i.e. materials exhibiting a Néel transition temperature
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10S428/90—Magnetic feature

Definitions

  • This invention relates to detection methods and apparatus, and in particular it concerns the use of a sensor element according to claim 1 and a theft detection system according to claim 9.
  • the present invention is particularly useful in the electronic article surveillance industry, although as will be seen hereinafter, certain aspects of the invention may have application to other industries.
  • articles of merchandise e.g. books, clothing, etc.
  • articles of merchandise are protected from theft or other unauthorized removal from a protected area by securing to the articles a target element and providing a target monitor at each exit from the protected area.
  • elongated target strips of magnetically soft, i.e. easily saturable, low coercivity material are attached to articles to be protected.
  • a transmitter and a receiver are provided with antennas located at the exit from a protected area.
  • the transmitter generates a continuous alternating magnetic field at the exit and when an article with a target strip attached is carried through the exit, the strip is magnetically saturated successively in opposite directions by the alternating magnetic field and thereby produces distinctive disturbances in the field.
  • the thus disturbed field is received by the receiver.
  • the receiver in turn produces corresponding electrical signals and processes them to detect those corresponding to the particular distinctive disturbances produced by the target strips and to actuate an alarm in response to the selected signals.
  • targets for such systems should have very low magnetic coercivity, e.g.less than 0.1 oersted; they should be easily magnetically saturable; and they should have a magnetic hysteresis loop which is generally rectangular in shape.
  • Thin elongated strips of a crystalline material, such a Permalloy® or an amorphous material, such as Metglas® have been used in the past as detectable targets.
  • Another problem associated with electromagnetic sensor devices in the electronic article surveillance industry is that of deactivating the devices so that the articles to which they are attached can be taken from the protected area without activating the alarm when removal has been authorized, for example upon purchase or proper checkout of an article of merchandise.
  • the devices were provided with spaced apart elements or a continuous strip of a high coercive force magnetic material which, when magnetized, would effectively prevent the device from responding to the alternating magnetic field generated at the exit.
  • the addition of these elements or strips was costly, both in terms of material and assembly; and they substantially increased the physical size of the sensor device.
  • continuous strip type deactivatable sensor devices were easier to assemble than those with spaced apart elements, the former required actual physical contact with a deactivating magnet in order to effect deactivation; and thus they were less convenient to use.
  • DE-A1-38 24 075 a composite which may be used in sensor elements for electronic article surveillance.
  • the composite comprises two separately formed portions of different magnetic materials that are mechanically stressed to each other.
  • PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MAGNETICS CONFERENCE (INTERMAG), WASHINGTON, MAR. 28-31, 1989, no.-, 28 March 1989
  • INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEER page GQ 2 xP000078662, Wing kei Ho et al.: "ANISOTROPY PINNING OF DOMAIN WALLS IN SOFTMAGNETIC MATERIAL" describes an annealed cobald-rich ribbon that has a characteristic symmetric hysteresis curve which may be used in sensor elements for electronic article surveillance.
  • DE-AS-23 65 178 discloses a method of manufacturing magnetic materials using magnetic pigments having an asymmetric hysteresis curve.
  • the magnetic materials such produced are used in manufacturing magnetic recording mediums.
  • a sensor element forming the base for the preamble of claims 1 and 8.
  • This sensor element comprises first and second layers of an antiferromagnetic material, wherein the sensor element is formed as an elongated strip and the two layers are magnetically exchange coupled along their lengths.
  • the sensor elements exhibit symmetric magnetic hysteresis in the presence of magnetic fields of about 30 oersteds.
  • this object is achieved by the use of a sensor element according to claim 1.
  • this object is achieved by a system according to claim 9.
  • the sensor element exhibits a symmetric magnetic hysteresis in the presence of interrogation fields less than about 3 oersteds.
  • a magnetic interrogation field which is increasing, e.g. the sensor element produces a large response, but when the magnetic interrogation field is decreasing, e.g. the sensor element produces a much smaller response.
  • the sensor element produces only one significant pulse for each back and forth sweep of the magnetic interrogation field. This characteristic is very unique and allows the detecting device to discriminate between a true sensor element and other magnetic materials.
  • a theft detection system according to the present invention is shown as used in a supermarket to protect against theft of merchandise.
  • a supermarket checkout counter 10 having a conveyor belt 12 which carries merchandise, such as items 14 to be purchased, (as indicated by an arrow A) past a cash register 16 positioned alongside of the counter.
  • a patron who has selected goods from various shelves or bins 17 in the supermarket takes them from a shopping cart 18 and places them on the conveyor belt 12 at one end of the counter 10.
  • a clerk 19 standing at the cash register 16 records the price of each item of merchandise as it moves past on the conveyor belt. The items are then paid for and are bagged at the other end of the counter.
  • the theft detection system according to this invention includes a pair of spaced apart antenna panels 20 and 22 next to the counter 10 beyond the cash register 16. The antenna panels 20 and 22 are spaced far enough apart to permit the store patron and the shopping cart 18 to pass between them.
  • the antenna panels 20 and 22 contain transmitter antennas which generate an alternating magnetic interrogation field in an interrogation zone 24 between the panels.
  • the antenna panels 20 and 22 also contain receiver antennas (also described hereinafter) which produce electrical signals corresponding to variations in the magnetic interrogation field in the zone 24.
  • the antennas are electrically connected to transmitter and receiver circuits contained in a housing 26 arranged on or near the counter 10.
  • an alarm such as a light 28, mounted on the counter 10, which can easily be seen by the clerk and which is activated by the electrical circuit when a protected item 14 is carried between the antenna panels 20 and 22.
  • an audible alarm may be provided instead of, or in addition to, the light 28.
  • Those of the items 14 which are to be protected against shoplifting are each provided with a target 30 which comprises a thin elongated strip of a special high permeability easily saturable magnetic material according to the present invention.
  • a target 30 which comprises a thin elongated strip of a special high permeability easily saturable magnetic material according to the present invention.
  • the target 30 When an item 14 having a sensor element or target 30 mounted thereon enters the interrogation zone 24, it becomes exposed to the alternating magnetic interrogation field in the zone and becomes magnetized alternately in opposite directions and driven repetitively into and out of magnetic saturation. As a result, the target 30 produces unique disturbances in the magnetic field in the interrogation zone. These unique disturbances which are in the form of alternating magnetic fields at frequencies harmonically related to that of the interrogation field, are intercepted by the receiver antenna which produces corresponding electrical signals. These electrical signals, as well as other electrical signals resulting from the various magnetic fields incident upon the receiver antenna, are processed in the receiver circuits so as to distinguish those produced by true targets from those produced by other electromagnetic disturbances. Upon completion of such processing, the true target produced signals are then used to operate the alarm light 28. Thus the clerk 19 will be informed whenever a patron may attempt to carry protected articles out of the store without being purchased.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 show the sensor element or target 30 on the items 14 in FIG. 1.
  • the target 30 is in the shape of a strip or ribbon.
  • the specific dimensions of the target 30 are not critical to the invention, although the target should be long in relation to its cross section.
  • One of the features of the invention is that the target 30 provides easily detectable responses even when its length is less than that of conventional targets.
  • the target 30 may have a length of 1.25 inches (31.8 mm) to 7 inches (17.8 cm) and cross sectional dimensions of about 0.0625 inches (1.6 mm) by 0.0013 inches (0.033 mm).
  • the target 30 comprises a substrate 32 which is covered by a coating 34 of finite thickness.
  • the thickness of the coating 34 is less than 0.000,001 inches (0.000025 mm). It is preferred that the coating 34 cover both sides of the substrate 32.
  • the substrate 32 is a low magnetic coercivity (e.g. less than 0.1 oersteds) ferromagnetic material such as an alloy of cobalt which contains iron and boron and/or silicon.
  • the first composition i.e. containing Fe 6.5 , provides the best asymmetry as will be described hereinafter.
  • the second composition i.e.
  • the microstructure of the substrate 32 may be either crystalline or amorphous or a combination; however to avoid excessive brittleness where the principal component is cobalt, it is preferred that the substrate have a certain amount of amorphousness.
  • the coating 34 is a crystalline antiferromagnetic material which is magnetically exchange coupled with the substrate 32. It is preferred that the coating 34 be a complex compound which contains cobalt because such material is antiferromagnetic and it can be formed directly on the substrate in exchange coupled relation therewith by heating the substrate in an oxidizing atmosphere.
  • the senor element or target 30 may be encased in a protective and/or decorative casing of paper or plastic (not shown); and it or the casing may be provided with suitable adhesive for securing the target to the items 14 of merchandise to be protected.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 show another sensor element or target 30' of wire-like configuration.
  • This target also comprises a substrate 32' and a coating 34' of the same materials, respectively, as the substrate 32 and the coating 34 of the target 30 described above.
  • FIG. 6A shows the magnetic hysteresis characteristic of the material of the target substrates 32 and 32', that is, the magnetic hysteresis they exhibit in the absence of the coating 34 and 34'.
  • the abscissa in FIG. 6A represents the strength (in oersteds) and direction (positive and negative) of an externally applied magnetic field (H) directed along the length of the target substrate.
  • the ordinate in FIG. 6A represents the corresponding magnetization (M) (in gauss) of the target substrate.
  • the applied magnetic field H is large in the negative direction (i.e. point A)
  • the resulting magnetization M is likewise maximum in the negative direction.
  • the substrate material is magnetically saturated and therefore any increase in the magnitude of the applied magnetic field H in the negative direction will not further increase the magnetization M of the substrate.
  • the magnetization M of the target substrate remains maximally negative, i.e. it remains negatively saturated, until the applied magnetic field H reaches a substantial magnitude in the positive direction at point B. Only at this point does any further increase in the applied magnetic field H cause the magnetization M of the target substrate to increase toward a positive value. Further increase in the applied magnetic field H results in the magnetization H of the target substrate attaining a maximum value in the positive direction at a point C.
  • the target substrate is magnetically saturated and any additional increase in the magnitude of the applied magnetic field will not further increase its magnetization.
  • the applied magnetic field H is changed in the negative direction
  • the target substrate will remain positively saturated until the applied magnetic field is at a substantial magnitude in the negative direction (point D) whereupon further change in the negative direction of the applied magnetic field will return the target substrate magnetization to saturation in the negative direction (point A).
  • the applied magnetic field changes alternately between maximum positive and negative values, it drives the target substrate alternately into and out of saturation in the positive and negative directions, following the path A, B, C, D, A, etc.
  • the target substrate undergoes a large change in magnetization M only through limited portions of the change in applied magnetic field H, namely between points B and C and between points D and A. It is during these changes that the target material disturbs the applied magnetic field and produces distinctive effects which can be detected.
  • the slopes of the hysteresis curve between the points B and C and between the points D and A correspond to the distinctiveness of the magnetic effects produced by the target material. That is, where the slopes are steep, the changing magnetic field produces very sudden changes in magnetization with correspondingly large values of high frequency components.
  • FIG. 6B shows the magnetic field disturbance produced by the alternate magnetization of the target substrate.
  • FIG. 6B is the differential of the hysteresis curve of FIG. 6A along the path A, B, C, D. It will be appreciated that as the applied magnetic field H is swept back and forth between its maximum positive and negative values, the magnetization of the target substrate material will change twice during each sweep cycle, with one change in the negative direction and the other change in the positive direction. Also, it will be noted that the hysteresis curve (FIG. 6A) is essentially symmetrical, with the slopes B-C and D-A being equally steep. Consequently, the magnetization curve of FIG. 6B shows two pulses of essentially the same shape and magnitude which occur during each sweep cycle.
  • the shape or narrowness of these pulses which corresponds to the high frequency components produced by the target substrate material, and the magnitude of the pulses, both depend on the sharpness of the slope of the hysteresis curve between points B and C and between points D and A.
  • ferromagnetic materials have a hysteresis characteristic which generally corresponds to that shown in FIG. 6A. However, most such materials either require a large applied magnetic field to drive them into and out of magnetic saturation or have a hysteresis characteristic with very shallow slopes.
  • certain materials for example permalloy and amorphous alloys of iron, nickel and cobalt, which have a very low magnetic coercivity, i.e. less than 0.1 oersted, that can be saturated in response to very low magnitude magnetic fields and which also have fairly steep slope hysteresis characteristics; and when these materials are formed into long thin target elements they are capable of producing magnetic effects which can be distinguished from most ferromagnetic objects. Accordingly such materials have been used in the past as target elements in magnetic type theft detection systems.
  • FIG. 7A shows the magnetic hysteresis characteristic of the coated sensor element or target 30 and 30' of the present invention. This characteristic is generally similar to that of FIG. 6A, with points A', B', C' and D' corresponding respectively to points A, B, C and D in FIG. 6A. However the characteristic shown in FIG. 7A has two very significant differences from that of FIG. 6A. The first difference is that the slope B'-C' in FIG. 7A is substantially more steep than the slope B-C in FIG. 6A and the second difference is that the slope D'-A' in FIG. 7A is substantially less steep than the slope D-A in FIG. 6A. As a result a very much higher magnitude and narrower pulse (with high frequency components) is produced during magnetization between points B' and C' and a very much lower magnitude and wider pulse is produced during magnetization between points D' and A'.
  • both of these features provide significant improvement in the detectability of the target. Firstly, the increase in the magnitude and the accompanying increase in the high frequency components of the pulse produced along the region B'-C' results in a very distinctive signal that is easily detected. Secondly, the decrease in magnitude of the pulse produced along the region D'-A' gives the target an overall asymmetrical characteristic which is extremely rare and therefore makes it possible to detect the target with high accuracy and reliability. A detection system which makes use of these unique characteristics will be described hereinafter.
  • FIGS. 8-10 The manner in which the novel sensor elements or targets 30 and 30' are made is illustrated in FIGS. 8-10.
  • a box furnace 40 of ceramic or other nonferromagnetic material As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 there is provided a box furnace 40 of ceramic or other nonferromagnetic material.
  • the furnace 40 contains an electrical heating element (not shown) which is capable of heating the interior of the furnace uniformly to a temperature of 260-420°C.
  • a thermocouple 42 is positioned in the furnace to monitor the temperature and the thermocouple output is connected to a conventional regulator which adjusts the heat input to the furnace accordingly.
  • the specimen organizer 44 is formed with a plurality of parallel holes 46 which extend through the organizer from one side thereof to the opposite side.
  • the diameter of the holes should be large enough to accommodate target strips and to permit gases to flow freely around the strips while they are being heated in the furnace.
  • the holes 46 each have a diameter of about 0.30 inches (0.8 cm).
  • a Permalloy tube 48 is inserted into each of the holes 46 and a non-metallic tube 50 is inserted into each of the permalloy tubes 48.
  • a target substrate 32 or 32' is positioned inside each of the tubes 50.
  • the furnace 40 is provided with means (not shown) to maintain a continuous supply of gas flowing therethrough and particularly through the tubes 50 in the specimen organizer 44.
  • the gas should be air, pure oxygen or a mixture of argon and oxygen which will oxidize the surface of the target substrates 32 or 32' located in the tubes 50.
  • the furnace 40 is positioned between a pair of Helmholtz coils 52 which produce a very precisely controlled low magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to their surfaces.
  • the furnace is oriented so that the target substrates 32 and 32' extend in the direction of the magnetic field produced by the Helmholtz coils 52.
  • a substrate of a cobalt alloy such as described above is positioned inside each of the tubes 50 in the specimen organizer 44 and the specimen organizer is positioned in the furnace 40.
  • the furnace is then heated to a temperature of 260-420°C. for a period of two hours to eighty hours, until a film forms on the substrate.
  • the precise time and temperature will depend on the composition of the substrate material.
  • the substrate should be oxidized in air at a temperature of 380°C. for twenty hours.
  • the Helmholtz coils 52 are energized to produce a magnetic field of about 0.3 oersteds along the length of the oxidized target substrates. This magnetic field is maintained until the furnace is cooled down to below the Neel temperature (i.e. the temperature below which antiferromagnetism occurs in the coating). The targets may then be removed from the furnace 40. These targets will then possess the asymmetrical hysteresis characteristic shown in FIG. 7A.
  • the Permalloy tubes 48 serve to isolate the target substrates from the effects of external magnetic fields (including the Earth's magnetic field) other than those produced by the Helmholtz coils, so that the magnetic bias imposed on the targets as they are cooled down to below the Neel temperature can be carefully maintained both as to magnitude and as to direction.
  • FIG. 11 shows, in block diagram form, modifications which could be made to a detection system of the type shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,623,877 which enable the system to utilize the unique asymmetric hysteresis characteristic of the novel targets of the present invention and provide even better discrimination over magnetic objects that may be present in the vicinity of the detection system.
  • an oscillator 60 which is connected through a frequency divider 62 to an amplifier and driver 64 which energizes the interrogation antenna 20 at a precise frequency according to a sine wave pattern.
  • the receiver antenna 22 in turn, is connected to a signal processor 66 which contains receiver filters, amplifiers and signal threshold detectors.
  • the signals which are output from the signal processor 66 are applied to each of three gates 68, 70 and 72.
  • the gate outputs in turn are applied to associated signal accumulators or counters 74, 76 and 78.
  • the outputs of the accumulators or counters 74 and 76 are passed through associated output gates 80 and 82 and from there through an OR circuit 84 to an alarm 86.
  • the gates 68, 70 and 72 are controlled by outputs from a gate control signal generator 61 which in turn receives signals from the oscillator 60.
  • the gates 68 70 and 72 are opened and closed in synchronism with the interrogation field generated by the interrogation antenna 20.
  • the outputs of the accumulator or counter 74 are applied to disable terminals 80a and 82a of the output gates 80 and 82, respectively.
  • Figs. 12a-12d illustrate the operation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 11 for selectively detecting the targets 30 and 30' having asymmetrical hysteresis characteristics.
  • Fig. 12a represents the magnetic field intensity generated by the interrogation antenna 20 and incident on the target 30.
  • Fig. 12b shows the intervals in which the gate 68 is open to pass signals.
  • Fig. 12c shows the intervals in which the gate 70 is open to pass signals and
  • Fig. 12d shows the intervals in which the gate 72 is open to pass signals.
  • the gate 68 is open during each interval in which the applied magnetic field changes from positive to negative and vice versa.
  • the magnetic saturation of the target material should be reversed by the changing interrogation field to produce detectable pulses. Should any electromagnetic signals be incident on the receiver antenna 22 at times other than during these intervals, they would not be from the targets and, accordingly, the gate 68 is not open to pass such signals. Depending on the effects of the earth's magnetic field and other factors, the precise timing of the open intervals of the gate 68 might be shifted somewhat but basically it should be open each time the target 30 or 30' produces a pulse signal.
  • the gate 68 is open each time the magnetic interrogation field shifts from positive to negative and from negative to positive. Thus, the gate 68 is open twice during each cycle of the interrogation signal.
  • the gates 70 and 72 are set to be open only once during each cycle of the interrogation signal. The gate 70 is open each time the interrogation signal changes from negative to positive and the gate 72 is open each time the interrogation signal changes from positive to negative.
  • a magnetizable element having the hysteresis characteristic shown in Fig. 6A passes between the antennas 20 and 22 it will produce signals during each of the intervals when gates 68, 70 and 72 are open.
  • the outputs from the gates 70 and 72 will build up or accumulate in their respective accumulators or counters 76 and 78; however, because the gate 68 is open more often in the same time, its outputs will accumulate faster in its associated accumulator or counter 74 and therefore the output from the accumulator or counter 74 will disable the gates 80 and 82 to prevent detection of the magnetic material having a symmetric hysteresis characteristic.
  • a target 30 or 30' of the present invention passing between the interrogation and receiver antennas 20 and 22, it will cause detectable signals to be produced only once during each cycle of the interrogation field, either while the field is changing from positive to negative or while the field is changing from negative to positive, depending on the target orientation. If those signals are generated only while the magnetic interrogation field is changing from positive to negative, they will not pass through the gate 70 but they will pass through the gate 72. Such signals will also pass through the gate 74 but inasmuch as these signals occur only once during each cycle the output from the gate 74 is no greater than the output from the gate 72.
  • the disable terminals 80a and 82a on the output gates 80 and 82 are set to close their respective gate only when the signal they receive from the accumulators or counters 74 and 76 is appreciably greater than the signals applied to the output gates 80 and 82 from the accumulators or counters 76 and 78.
  • a target having an asymmetric hysteresis characteristic passes between the antennas 20 and 22, it will be detected irrespective of its orientation.
  • an element having a symmetric hysteresis characteristic passes between the antennas it will not be detected.
  • the present invention provides a sensor element, for example, a theft detection target, which responds to applied interrogation fields by producing narrow, high amplitude pulses which have strong high frequency components, particularly in the range of the twentieth harmonic of the interrogation field frequency.
  • a sensor element for example, a theft detection target
  • Such pulses are unique and easily detectable and this alone provides a substantial advantage over the prior art.
  • the targets 30 and 30' can be detected in conventional magnetic type detection systems without modification, except possibly raising of the detection level threshold to further minimize false alarms.
  • the targets 30 and 30' of the present invention have asymmetric hysteresis characteristics which enable them to respond to an applied alternating interrogation field by producing only one pulse during each cycle of the field or one pulse which is substantially greater (e.g. three times greater) than the other pulse produced in the same cycle.
  • This provides an additional unique characteristic which, as described, permits even more reliable detection when the detection system is set, for example, as in Fig. 11, to detect only one pulse per cycle of the interrogating magnetic field.
  • the asymmetrical hysteresis characteristic of the targets 30 and 30' can be temporarily cancelled by subjecting them to a magnetic bias field of between 3 and 100 oersteds and preferably from 10 to 20 oersteds.
  • a magnetic bias field of between 3 and 100 oersteds and preferably from 10 to 20 oersteds.
  • the targets are subjected to such a field their hysteresis characteristic is symmetrical, but when this bias field is removed the asymmetrical hysteresis characteristic is recovered.
  • the target is subjected to a strong magnetic bias field, for example, greater that 100 oersteds, the asymmetric hysteresis characteristic of the target becomes permanently destroyed; and when the bias field is removed, the target retains a symmetrical hysteresis characteristic.
  • Fig. 13 shows a target assembly 90 which can be temporarily deactivated so that it will not be detected by a system, such as that shown in Fig. 11, which responds only to targets having an asymmetrical hysteresis characteristic.
  • the target assembly 90 comprises the target 30 of Fig. 2 and at least one deactivation element 92 of a magnetic material having a magnetic coercivity such that it can be semi-permanently magnetized and when so magnetized will impose a magnetic bias field of about 10 to 20 oersteds on the target 30.
  • the deactivation element 92 is not magnetized, it has no effect on the target 30.
  • the target will retain its asymmetric hysteresis characteristic and will be detectable in the system of Fig. 11.
  • the deactivation element 92 When the deactivation element 92 is magnetized, it will impose a magnetic bias on the target 30 and change its hysteresis characteristic so that it becomes symmetrical and the target assembly 90 cannot then be detected in the system of Fig. 11.
  • this bias field of 10-20 oersteds is far less than the bias field needed to deactivate prior art targets, which is normally well in excess of 60 oersteds.
  • the targets 30 or 30' are provided with deactivation elements which impose such a high magnetic bias, the targets will be deactivated so as not to be detectable either by a system such as that of Fig. 11 or by a prior art detection system.
  • the target 30 or 30' need not be provided with a deactivation element. Instead, such permanent deactivation can be obtained simply by exposing the target to a magnetic bias field in excess of 100 oersteds.

Claims (11)

  1. Verwendung eines Sensorelements (30, 30'), das an einem zu schützenden Gegenstand (14) mitzuführen ist, in einem Diebstahlsicherungssystem, wobei das Element (30, 30') eine erste Schicht (32, 32') aus einem ferromagnetischen Material mit einer magnetischen Koerzitivkraft von weniger als drei Oersted (ein Oersted entspricht (1000/4π)·A/m) und eine zweite Schicht (34, 34') aus einem antiferromagnetischen Material aufweist, wobei das Sensorelement (30, 30') als ein länglicher Streifen geformt ist und die beiden Schichten (32, 32'; 34, 34') in Längsrichtung magnetisch wechselwirkend gekoppelt sind, und wobei das Sensorelement in Anwesenheit eines Wechselmagnetfeldes von weniger als etwa drei Oerstedt (ein Oersted entspricht (1000/4π)·A/m) eine magnetische Hysteresisschleife zeigt, welche unterschiedliche Steigungen für entgegengesetzte Änderungsrichtungen des Wechselmagnetfeldes aufweist.
  2. Verwendung eines Sensorelements nach Anspruch 1,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Element (30, 30') aus einer Kobalt-Eisen-Legierung gebildet ist, die ein metallartiges Element enthält und darauf einen Film (34, 34') aufweist.
  3. Verwendung eines Sensorelements nach Anspruch 1,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweite Schicht (34, 34') eine kristalline Mikrostruktur besitzt.
  4. Verwendung eines Sensorelements nach Anspruch 1,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweite Schicht (34, 34') die erste Schicht (32, 32') umgibt.
  5. Verwendung eines Sensorelements nach Anspruch 1,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweite Schicht (34, 34') eine auf der ersten Schicht (32, 32') ausgebildete Oxidationsschicht ist.
  6. Verwendung eines Sensorelements nach Anspruch 1,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein magnetisierbares Element (92) neben den Schichten (32, 32'; 34, 34') angeordnet ist, wobei das magnetisierbare Element (92) ausreichend stark magnetisierbar ist, um zu verhindern, dass die Schichten (32, 32'; 34, 34') eine asymmetrische Hysteresis-Eigenschaft zeigen.
  7. Verwendung eines Sensorelements nach Anspruch 1,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Streifen (30, 30') eine erste Schicht (32, 32') hat, deren Zusammensetzung der Formel Co(75-x)Fe(x)Si10B15 entspricht, wobei x im Bereich von 10 bis 72,5 liegt und x und die anderen Indizes in Atomprozent angegeben sind.
  8. Verwendung eines Sensorelements nach Anspruch 7,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass x = 68,5 oder x = 70,5.
  9. Diebstahlsicherungssystem, mit einem Sender (20) zum Erzeugen eines Wechselmagnetfeldes in einer Abfragezone (24), einem Empfänger (22) zum Erzeugen elektrischer Signale aufgrund von Veränderungen des Magnetfeldes in der Abfragezone (24) und einem Sensorelement (30, 30'), das an einem zu schützenden Gegenstand (14) mitzuführen ist, wobei das Element (30, 30') eine erste Schicht (32, 32') aus einem ferromagnetischen Material mit einer magnetischen Koerzitivkraft von weniger als drei Oersted (ein Oersted entspricht (1000/4π)·A/m) und eine zweite Schicht (34, 34') aus einem antiferromagnetischen Material aufweist, wobei das Sensorelement (30, 30') als ein länglicher Streifen geformt ist und die beiden Schichten (32, 32'; 34, 34') in Längsrichtung magnetisch wechselwirkend gekoppelt sind,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Sensorelement (30, 30') in Anwesenheit eines Wechselmagnetfeldes von weniger als etwa drei Oerstedt (ein Oersted entspricht (1000/4π)·A/m) eine magnetische Hysteresisschleife zeigt, welche unterschiedliche Steigungen für entgegengesetzte Änderungsrichtungen des Wechselmagnetfeldes aufweist.
  10. Diebstahlsicherungssystem nach Anspruch 9,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Streifen (30, 30') eine erste Schicht (32, 32') hat, deren Zusammensetzung der Formel Co(75-x)Fe(x)Si10B15 entspricht, wobei x im Bereich von 10 bis 72,5 liegt und x und die anderen Indizes in Atomprozent angegeben sind.
  11. Diebstahlsicherungssystem nach Anspruch 9,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweite Schicht (34, 34') eine auf der ersten Schicht (32, 32') ausgebildete Oxidationsschicht ist.
EP95117726A 1990-04-10 1991-04-10 Nutzung von magnetischen Warensicherungsetiketten Expired - Lifetime EP0701235B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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US506775 1990-04-10
US07/506,775 US5029291A (en) 1990-04-10 1990-04-10 Electromagnetic sensor element and methods and apparatus for making and using same
EP91105680A EP0451812B1 (de) 1990-04-10 1991-04-10 Warensicherungsetikett und Verfahren zur Herstellung desselben

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EP91105680.2 Division 1991-04-10

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EP0701235A2 EP0701235A2 (de) 1996-03-13
EP0701235A3 EP0701235A3 (de) 1996-11-13
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EP95117727A Expired - Lifetime EP0696786B1 (de) 1990-04-10 1991-04-10 Verfahren und Einrichtung zur Herstellung und Nutzung von magnetischen Warensicherungsetiketten
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EP0696786A2 (de) 1996-02-14
EP0696786B1 (de) 2000-07-05
DE69121621D1 (de) 1996-10-02
DE451812T1 (de) 1992-04-09
EP0451812A3 (en) 1991-12-18
EP0451812A2 (de) 1991-10-16
DE69121621T2 (de) 1997-04-03
DE69132747D1 (de) 2001-10-31
EP0701235A3 (de) 1996-11-13
DE69132295D1 (de) 2000-08-10
EP0451812B1 (de) 1996-08-28
EP0696786A3 (de) 1996-11-06
BR9101430A (pt) 1991-11-26
CA2039989C (en) 1994-11-08
US5029291A (en) 1991-07-02
CA2039989A1 (en) 1991-10-11
JPH04225504A (ja) 1992-08-14
EP0701235A2 (de) 1996-03-13

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